Irish exports to non-EU countries outside dropped 6 per cent during the nine months to September 2003, according to data released this morning from the Central Statistics Office.
Exports to countries outsides the fell to €23.78 billion compared with €25.24 billion over the same period in 2002.
The figures show that imports over the same period also fell by a seasonally adjusted 6 per centfrom €14.2billion to €13.4 billion.
However this was offset by an increase of 1.4 per cent in the value of exports to the United States, the Republic's largest trade partner outside Europe. These exports overcame the effect of the stronger euro to rise by €12.73 billion.
Imports from the United States also showed a decline, falling 21 per cent to €5 billion.
Computer equipment exports dropped 15 per cent to €3.66 billion, with medical and pharmaceutical products also showing a fall, down 19 per cent to €2.3 billion. Imports of computers rose by 14 per cent to €3.67 billion.
The value of imports from Japan grew by 36 per cent to €1.52 billion while imports from China over the nine-month period rose by 72 per cent to €1.34 billion.